Wilson Posted August 7, 2008 Report Posted August 7, 2008 I'm looking to go to Chicago for 4 nights this coming weekend. It doesn't matter where it is, Chicago area, or Chicago Suburbs, as long as it has a comfortable bed (preferably King, Queen is also acceptable). I don't spend much time in the hotel, except for sleeping, as long as it is within 30-40 miles from Chicago, it is acceptable.Anyone has any experience with any hotel? I'm looking to pay the lowest rate possible. It doesn't matter ot me if the hotel has much facilities, I only need a comfortable mattress (comparable to those offered in Hilton/Hyatt). I will be driving my car along with me.I have always been paying $35-$40 for 3 star hotels, and $45-$60+ for 4 star hotel around Chicago Airport, and suburbs ...My length of stay would be this coming Saturday (8/9) till Wednesday (8/13). Again, star level doesn't matter, I use the room just to sleep, and I drive all around the area, I'm looking forward to saving money with the best mattress/room cleanliness, for the lowest price possible. I might even extend my stay till Thursday (8/14) if things work out well with the hotel.And by the way, I don't mind changing hotels, as long as they make me save money. The reason area doesn't matter is because my job requires me to travel all around the area, and there is no specific place.Thanks.
Wilson Posted August 7, 2008 Author Report Posted August 7, 2008 I have just successfully bid the first 2 nights at North Shore (Northbrook) 4 star for $52 a night. Apparently from Aug 11 till Aug 13 is a higher rate, I tried to extend using the same rate, but they won't allow me unless I pay $72. This is kind of sad. What do you guys recommend for the next 2 nights. I thought I was trying to save money, but ended up trying for 4 stars ... LOL ...Renaissance Chicago North Shore 4-starNorth Shore933 Skokie BoulevardNorthbrook, Illinois 60062847-498-6500See Hotel WebsiteView Map and Directions Check-In Date:Sat, Aug 9, 2008 / After 03:00 PMCheck-Out Date:Mon, Aug 11, 2008 / 12:00 PMAmenities: Remote control TV w/ premium channels Telephone w/ voicemail Radio Alarm Clock Iron and ironing board Hairdryer Business services 24 hour front desk Restaurant Room service Bellman Concierge Fitness center access Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $52.00Subtotal: $104.00Taxes & Service Fees: $20.87Total Charges*: $124.87
AaronJB Posted August 7, 2008 Report Posted August 7, 2008 The Renaissance North Shore is across the highway from the back ("walk-in") entrance of the Chicago Botanic Gardens (which are in the 'burb of Glencoe.) You cannot park on this side (the drive in is on the other side, which is about a mile and a half N E of your hotel), but the hotel shuttle may be able to drop you off and you can then walk in through the gate. I'm pretty sure the hotel has a shuttle to the nearest Metra train station, as well. Thank you for reporting your wins.Additionally, Barnaby's Pizza across from the Renaissance has been there for decades. Not the world's greatest pizza, but enjoyable if you're looking for a quick bite.
thereuare Posted August 7, 2008 Report Posted August 7, 2008 Congratulations on your win!I think you did quite well and did save money... where else you going to get a 4* hotel for $52/nite! Even if you went for a lower star rated hotel, how much would you have saved, $10? Better take the higher rated hotel and enjoy the comfort and amenities offered.We've moved the win posted for the second half of your stay to its own thread here: PRICELINE DOUBLETREE.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.Thank you for sharing your win(s) with the board and enjoy your stay(s). Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Wilson Posted August 7, 2008 Author Report Posted August 7, 2008 The Renaissance North Shore is across the highway from the back ("walk-in") entrance of the Chicago Botanic Gardens (which are in the 'burb of Glencoe.) You cannot park on this side (the drive in is on the other side, which is about a mile and a half N E of your hotel), but the hotel shuttle may be able to drop you off and you can then walk in through the gate. I'm pretty sure the hotel has a shuttle to the nearest Metra train station, as well. Thank you for reporting your wins.Additionally, Barnaby's Pizza across from the Renaissance has been there for decades. Not the world's greatest pizza, but enjoyable if you're looking for a quick bite.I'm not 100% sure I understand what you meant. Do you mean they don't provide parking close to the hotel? Or I have to pay for it? I'm not familar with the area, that's why I can't really picture what you're trying to say.I will definitely pay Barnaby's Pizza a visit. Thanks for the heads up.
Wilson Posted August 7, 2008 Author Report Posted August 7, 2008 Congratulations on your win!I think you did quite well and did save money... where else you going to get a 4* hotel for $52/nite! Even if you went for a lower star rated hotel, how much would you have saved, $10? Better take the higher rated hotel and enjoy the comfort and amenities offered.We've moved the win posted for the second half of your stay to its own thread here: PRICELINE DOUBLETREE.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.Thank you for sharing your win(s) with the board and enjoy your stay(s).My best 4* deal came from Hyatt Lodge @ McDonald's Campus at $48/night.
AaronJB Posted August 7, 2008 Report Posted August 7, 2008 My mistake - I wrote the above early this morning and could have been clearer. The hotel definitely does offer parking in front of the hotel, but the enterance to the Chicago Botanic Garden that is across the highway from the hotel does not offer parking on that side of the Garden as that is the "walk-in" enterance to the Gardens. If you have any interest (or have any time) to see the Gardens, they are quite beautiful and the hotel shuttle may be able to drop you off in front of the "walk-in" enterance to the Gardens. The Gardens are free to enter (chicagobotanic.org is the website.)
Wilson Posted August 7, 2008 Author Report Posted August 7, 2008 Cool, I'll pay Botanic Garden a visit too ... :)So, you're from around Chicago area? You seemed very familiar with the place. I visit Chicago area once every 2-4 weeks.
Wilson Posted August 12, 2008 Author Report Posted August 12, 2008 Update and review of Renaissance @ Northbrook.I was looking for a comfortable place to stay, and wanted to try for a 4 star, and boy, was I wrong about this ...This place looks a bit run down, you can tell, the moment you walk into the lobby, this place looks old. This is the only 4 star hotel I've ever stayed in that didn't provide me with at least a King size mattress. They, however gave me a Queen size upon request, instead of the double-full bed, and I was happy at first. I even asked them what's the rating on this hotel, the front desk guy told me it is 3-star, so I don't know why Priceline rate them @ 4-star. They charge $99 a night if you walk in, so I've saved close to 40% considering the Priceline fee I had to pay.So, the bad thing, the 1st room they allocated me was with a Queen size mattress, room 640 ... it was a room allocated for handicapped access ... this room came with a bath tub ... I don't know about everybody, but I follow the Olympics swimming on TV, and the A/C WAS LOUD! I do not know why, the TV's volume was set to 60 maximum out of 100, and I can't get any higher than 60, and the AC was so loud I can't hear what the NBC commentator was saying, I dialed "0" and they told me they'll arrange to put me into another Queen mattress room, which is 2 floors below where I was, at room 440. This room ALSO comes with a handicap access, which I didn't really need ... This room however doesn't come with bath tub, I do not know how to explain, except that whenever anyone takes a shower, the whole bathroom gets wet ... but this room's TV volume goes up to 100, but I didn't put it all the way up ... and boy was this room's AC loud as hell as well ... I guess this hotel uses old AC systems from back in the days where they were loud ...Both room's mattress wasn't comfortable at all ... my girlfriend and I had trouble sleeping ... we woke up both nights with pretty bad backache, and boy do we miss our home's Tempurpedics ...Not only does the mattress feel uncomfortable, the AC was loud, blowing directly at the bed, which both of us didn't like ... it was either too cold without the comforter, or too warm if we're in our comforter, or it's too loud when the AC's fan is running ... and to whoever has been to this hotel, they'd understand, room 640 and 440 are located all the way to the end (it's kind of funny how 99% of all my rooms I got from Priceline are ALWAYS towards the end of the hallway, even the current hotel I stay in Doubletree), is directly opposite the freeway/interstate, and boy was it loud ... all these contributed to our lack of sleep for 2 nights ...Good thing about this hotel though is that the rooms are clean, front desk was very attentive, but this is definitely not the comfortable hotel we were looking for ... upon checkout, I complained to the front desk about what I had to go through, they offered to give me a free breakfast, but I refused it as I had plans at Barnaby's ...Now, back to Barnaby's ... the Pizza wasn't that great, but was definitely worth trying ... it was something different ... we had their Draft Root Beer, and loved it ... their Philly Cheese Sandwich was simply amazing ... funny thing though is that, this was our first time there, we thought we would be getting full service, we sat there for 15 minutes, no waiter/waitress, we didn't know about it, we were still looking at the menu, only to find out a notice on the side saying that it is a 100% self-service family dine inn ... You place the order, they give you a number, you pick up your food ... drinks are all ordered from the other side at the bar ... People around recommended us the root beer, and Chicago's Green River, we tried both, wasn't too amazed with the Green River, as we thought it tasted just like some green coloring was mixed with water and sugar/mint ... but the root beer was one of the best we've had, as it wasn't too sweet to our taste ...I'm currently watching Olympics at Doubletree @ WoodDale ... not only was the place a full star-rating lower than Renaissance according to Priceline, this hotel seemed to look better, lobby looks neater, and doesn't look as run down, offers free internet at the lobby, you get the access code, enter it, bring your laptop to your room, you can use it there for free ... it is also cheaper overall ($42/night compared to $52/night) ... mattress feels really comfortable ... girlfriend prefers the toiletries offered ... all Neutrogena products ... room is quiet ... and has a very beautiful lake view ... and of course ... KING MATTRESS! :) And not to forget that I was given a welcome cookie, which was freshly baked, as usual at all other Doubletree ... they even honored my HHonors membership, and I'm getting free breakfast for my 2 nights stay ...I guess Star-Rating isn't everything when it comes to comfort and a good night sleep ... I will never return to Renaissance @ Northbrook, and will definitely recommend Doubletree @ Wood Dale ...P.S. I didn't have time to go visit the Botanic Garden ... will try to do so on my next visit around the area if I remember to do so ...
AaronJB Posted August 12, 2008 Report Posted August 12, 2008 While I'm not one of those people that always recommends complaining, if the hotel worker even said it was a 3*, I'd think you would have a pretty good case against Priceline to get some sort of compensation. Either way, I'm sorry the hotel didn't work out very well. Glad you tried Barnaby's - the pizza's not the world's greatest, but it's one of those "local institutions" that has been there for probably a good thirty years or so (if not a little longer than that.)
Wilson Posted August 13, 2008 Author Report Posted August 13, 2008 I have never done complaining through Priceline before, and therefore doesn't really know how it works ... anyone able to explain to me how do I complain?
AaronJB Posted August 13, 2008 Report Posted August 13, 2008 Contact customer service - either by phone or email - and explain the situation.
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